Organize your job search: An invention of the recession
Tags: job application, job search, laid off, unemployed
Applying for jobs can be a numbers game. But what do you do to stay on top of the numbers?
When you start sending out dozens — or hundreds — of applications, it can be an organizational challenge to keep track of them all.
A couple of days ago, a reader by the name of Mike Marom got in touch with me to tell me about an online application he’s developing to do just that.
It’s called Becomed (becomed.com). Becomed helps you manage all your applications in one place. Also your resumes and your cover letters. (Of course, you’re customizing all your resumes and cover letters, right?)
Becomed.com
My own system is a naming one. Or a folder one. I have folders in which I use the date in the file name of my cover letters and resumes. Or sometimes I name them with numbers. Or letters. Or sometimes I name them with the names of the companies.
I think you get my point. I don’t have much of a system.
Becomed is a brilliant idea. And what’s really brilliant is that it’s an example of unemployment as the mother of invention.
When Mike wrote me, he explained that while trying to find a job himself he has a lot of spare time on his hands.
And he used it to create this website.
Now I’m not so technically talented. I’ve had to rely on the brilliant developers at Wordpress for the tools to fill my spare time. But can you imagine what might happen in this stretch of time that we’re living through right now while so many talented people are unemployed?
Think of the aggregate number of spare-time hours in the populace now. Think of how that spare time could be used in the hands of techies like Mike. In the hands of artists, musicians, and writers. In the hands of wood-workers and inventors and engineers and environmentalists and auto mechanics and activists and chefs.
We may find ourselves a year from now with an accumulation of inventions, art and good works that would never have seen the light of day otherwise. Or remained only a glimmer of an idea in someone’s head.
Could the recession give way to a renaissance?
In the meantime, we still need a day job. Check out becomed.com – and stay on top of your day job applications.
Tags: job application, job search, laid off, unemployed
Mike Marom said:
Mar 28, 09 at 11:35 amThank you for the blog post! I’m really happy to be able to help people who are in the same situation as I am. As you wrote, these days applying for jobs is definitely a numbers game, and my old system (a combination of Microsoft OneNote and folders on my desktop) wasn’t good enough and was far too passive. I needed an active system with reminders, next steps and action items to make sense of applications I was tracking, so I came up with the idea for http://www.becomed.com. Now that I have created it I use the site everyday myself (eating my own dog food, so to speak) and I hope people will find it as useful as I do.
I’m really enjoying this creative process. I modeled becomed.com after my own needs, but now I get to hear feedback from people about what they think should be integrated into the site, what I’m doing wrong and what I’m doing right, and it’s am amazing experience. The site is definitely evolving and improving every day based on people’s feedback and suggestions for changes and features I hadn’t thought of.
I’d love to see what your readers suggest for the site! Thanks again!
RD said:
Apr 06, 09 at 5:39 pmJust wanted to throw this out for your consideration.
CareerVizion is a free website to post jobs and resumes. It’s launching in mid April.
We are trying to help all we can find a job, for free.
RD
Need a job, post your resume free!
http://www.careervizion.com
Johen said:
Apr 11, 09 at 6:56 pmYes, Indeed applying for jobs is a tedious task and to track it is even more difficult.
I have been recently going through this phase and got my self registered on various Job Search Sites but as rightly said, I find it very hard to track the applications I have sent.
I will surely give a try to becomed.
Thanks for sharing
cdl driver jobs said:
Jun 11, 09 at 2:47 pmsounds like a neat little tool. im just glad i dont have the need for it…. (yet)
-Jack
melatonintablets said:
Jul 27, 09 at 4:09 amthe Economic Recession has been pretty hard on us. some of my friends lost their job because of the massive job cuts. i just hope that our economy becomes better in the following years.
bird feeders said:
Jul 29, 09 at 8:34 amWhat a great idea - its good that something good can come of what is a very difficult time for everyone. Perhaps Mike will be able to turn this in to a profitable business and not have to worry about a job!
aim international said:
Jul 29, 09 at 8:35 amI’m currently out of work at the moment (and have been for a little while) and something like this would make my life much easier as its a nightmare to keep track of applications - a calender with closing dates for jobs would also be really useful.
| body detox diet said:
Aug 01, 09 at 6:57 pmthere is a some good progress on the economy this year. i just hope that the economy will continue to recover in the following months and years.
bird feeders said:
Aug 05, 09 at 11:45 amI’ve just spent a day applying for jobs - filling in application forms and sending CV’s and its really difficult to keep track of what you sent to which company and when the closing dates are - this is a great time/hassle saving idea
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jeff said:
Sep 14, 09 at 7:21 pmHey,
Great post. I kinda stumbled upon your blog and now I’ve added it to my bookmarks. Interesting stuff.
Best,
Jeff
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Investment said:
Oct 04, 09 at 4:17 pmbecomed.com does sound like it could make a world of difference if you are looking for a job and sending out resumes. I remember one time i send so many resumes out and was getting calls for jobs that i didn’t remember I had applied for…I tried it out and it is like having my own personal secretary.
hillary scott said:
Oct 25, 09 at 2:39 pmSurprisingly the uk economy shrank a further 0.4% between July and September (the last quarter that there are figures for), so the end of the downturn is a long way off yet - another 6 months at least i reckon, its the longest recession since records began 50 years ago and it wont be till years later the economy and property market recovers, it was’nt until the late 90’s that the property market recovered after the 89/90 recession.
Buy UGG Boots said:
Oct 31, 09 at 10:17 pmbecomed.com does sound like it could make a world of difference if you are looking for a job and sending out resumes. I remember one time i send so many resumes out and was getting calls for jobs that i didn’t remember I had applied for…I tried it out and it is like having my own personal secretary.
zygor guides said:
Dec 08, 09 at 9:37 pmA piece of good work, the advice here is very practical.
Hello Kitty store said:
Dec 14, 09 at 8:30 pmI was jobless for sometime, later on I managed to come out from the shadow, your sharing is very helpful to those are in the worry.
Cameron258 said:
Dec 29, 09 at 2:00 amOur country had been so much affected by this Economic Recession. there are lots of job cuts and company shutdowns. We are seeing some signs of economic recovery right now and we hope that it would continue.
*****
Fatburningfurnace review said:
Dec 31, 09 at 5:33 amThink of how that spare time could be used in the hands of techies like Mike. In the hands of artists, musicians, and writers.
Sarah Thomazh said:
Feb 17, 10 at 6:55 ama great tool for job seekers, will be glad to check partnership opprtunities
Roman said:
Mar 29, 10 at 6:21 amthank you! becomed.com is very useful service!